A HALLOWEEN reveller had his face “torn like paper” when a stranger slashed him during a night out in the city centre.

Jack Taylor was out in Newcastle with his girlfriend and wearing a fancy dress onesie when he was attacked.

TNE

Jack Taylor was left with a horrific gash to his face after he was slashed with a broken key during a scuffle on a Halloween night out in Newcastle

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The 22-year-old is scarred for life after the attack, Newcastle crown court heard

A court heard Brian Murray left Taylor needing 19 stitches after slicing open his face with a broken key – leaving the 22-year-old scarred for life.

Speaking about the horror of the incident in a victim statement, Murray said: “I have made a lot of excuses not to go out with friends, I can’t trust strangers and I’ve been living in fear of being attacked again.

“I am conscious of my scar, I have had to grow a beard to cover it.”

Taylor, a factory worker from North Shields, said his job and future employment prospects have also been affected by what happened to him.

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Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court trouble flared in Newcastle city centre in the early hours of November 1.

Newcastle crown court heard both men threw punches but was unable to determine how to violence flared.

Mr Wardlaw added: “The defendant produced from his pocket a key. The key was sharp having been broken, and he slashed Mr Taylor across the face, causing the injury he sustained.

“Mr Taylor described the sound of paper tearing as the wound was inflicted.”

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Brian Murray, 50, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after admitting wounding with intent

Murray, of Newcastle, was arrested after a media appeal for information.

The 50-year-old, who has previous convictions for violence, admitted wounding with intent.

Jailing him, Judge Stephen Earl said: “There was what can only be described as a street brawl between the two of you.

“As to who did what first and how it started, there is some confusion. But the reality is clear, at some point during that street brawl between the two of you, you withdrew some keys and you drew that key, broken as it was, across the face of Mr Taylor, causing him irreparable damage.

“He is going to carry that for the rest of his life.

“I have seen and heard from Mr Taylor and it is clear that this will have a long term effect upon his life.”

Paul Caulfield, defending, said Murray is sorry for what he did.

Mr Caulfield said: “He thinks about it every day, wishes he had never got involved. He is clearly showing remorse.”

TNE

Taylor says the cut felt like "ripping paper" as the razor sharp key slashed his cheek

TNE

He admitted he did not realise the extent of his injury until he reached hospital

Speaking about the ordeal last November, Mr Taylor said: “I will be scarred for life and over nothing. If it had been two inches lower I could be dead and two inches higher I would have been blinded.”

Mr Taylor, who was on a night out with his girlfriend and friends, claimed to have noticed a man shouting at a woman outside a bar.

He said: “I just went over and told him to move on. Then he just started shouting at me and at Chloe.

“I felt his hand go down the side of my face it was just like someone was ripping paper on my face.

“I didn’t really know what was happening at the time and I didn’t think anything of it.”

But when Jack returned to his friends and saw the look of horror on their faces he realised he had suffered horrific injuries.

“When I went back to my mates everyone was pointing at my face.

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Jack, who was on a night out with his girlfriend Chloe, says he is also mentally scarred by the incident

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Taylor had become embroiled in a scuffle with Murray, who expressed his remorse over the incident in court

“I looked down at my sweater and there was blood all over it. Then I touched my face and there was blood all over my hand.”

Police arrived at the scene within minutes and drove Jack and Chloe to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Taylor added: “I didn’t realise how bad my face was until I got to hospital because there were no mirrors around.

“Then Chloe took some pictures. I didn’t think it was that bad until I looked.

“Then I realised my face was wide open. I wasn’t in a lot of pain so it must have been a clean cut.”

Murray was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Newcastle crown court.

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